SANA'A: A Yemeni air raid may have killed the top two leaders of Al-Qaida's regional branch yesterday, and an American Muslim preacher linked to the man who shot dead 13 people at a US army base may also have died, a Yemeni security official said.

Nasser al-Wahayshi, the Yemeni leader of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and his Saudi deputy, Saeed al-Shehri, were believed to be among 30 militants killed in the dawn operation in the eastern province of Shabwa, said the official, who asked not to be identified.

US-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki may also have died in the air strike which targeted a meeting of militants planning attacks on Yemeni and foreign oil and economic targets, he said.